The youth council will deepen San Antonio youth engagement in the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan in its second year.
San Antonio, Texas, November 30, 2021 — The second cohort of the Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council for Climate Initiatives (MYECCI) has officially launched with 37 area youth, representing each City Council district and 23 different schools, including public, private, charter, and homeschool. The council was started last year to foster and include the youth voice in the execution of the City of San Antonio’s first Climate Action and Adaption Plan (CAAP) which was adopted on October 17, 2019. This year’s council held their first meeting on Oct. 20th to come together and lay a foundational understanding of environmental justice and participate in community bonding activities to start connecting. Youth Council members will continue gathering until the end of May for monthly meetings and speaker series workshops. Members were selected through a competitive process after demonstrating an interest in improving community issues related to the environment and advancing public policy that addresses climate change and environmental justice.
The youth council is led and facilitated by the sustainability education non-profit, EcoRise, with support from the City of San Antonio Mayor’s Office and the Office of Sustainability. The mission of the MYECCI is to mobilize San Antonio’s next generation of climate champions and to provide them with the tools they need to become effective advocates in their community. There is a strong focus on engaging youth of color and students that have been historically underrepresented in the environmental movement. Council members will learn about sustainability, local policy, civic procedures, and how these relate to improving their community’s health and well-being. In addition, members will have opportunities for professional development, sharpening communication skills, and networking with professionals as well as youth council members from other regions.
“I couldn’t be prouder of how our young residents are stepping up to participate in the local climate conversation,” said Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “Our youth are joining people around the world who are helping to craft a sustainable future for their communities.”
“We are excited to activate another group of passionate, young leaders by providing them with knowledge and key resources to engage in the civic process in order to bring about the changes they want to see in their communities,” said EcoRise Director of Youth Programs, Brittany Jayroe. “Including youth perspective in local climate issues and resilience strategies is a critical investment in the future of San Antonio.”
MYECCI members will be paired with community-based mentors in their field of interest, which they will work with throughout the academic year. Mentors will act as a resource and collaborate with students on their community impact projects, which will be implemented in the spring of 2022 EcoRise is still seeking highly engaged leaders in San Antonio to serve as mentors to this year’s council members. If you are interested in this opportunity, find more information here and apply here.
The San Antonio Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council for Climate Initiatives was made possible by a grant from the Hollomon Price Foundation. For more information on the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, visit www.sanantonio.gov/sustainability. For more information about EcoRise and last year’s council, visit https://www.ecorise.org/youth-programming/meet-the-san-antonio-myecci/.
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About the City of San Antonio
San Antonio is a global city with a dynamic economy and workforce, a deep cultural heritage and diverse communities that are resilient and welcoming. It is one of the strongest fiscally managed cities in the country, nurturing entrepreneurship, encouraging investment and funding infrastructure. America’s seventh-largest city offers a vibrant business climate and growth opportunities in bioscience, financial services, aerospace, cybersecurity, energy, transportation, manufacturing and healthcare. In 2015, UNESCO designated San Antonio’s 18th century Spanish colonial missions as a World Heritage Site – the first in Texas. Proudly called Military City, USA®, San Antonio is home to one of the largest populations of active duty military, veterans and crucial military commands. For more information, visit www.sanantonio.gov.
About EcoRise
EcoRise develops the next generation of green leaders by enlivening conventional classrooms with academically aligned K–12 curricula that introduce students to environmental literacy, social innovation, and hands-on design skills. EcoRise is currently supporting over 4,000 teachers in helping over 246,000 students solve real-world sustainability challenges concerning energy, water, waste, transportation, air quality, food, and public spaces. The program focuses on enhancing STEM education, promoting sustainability, introducing students to green careers, and helping students develop 21st-century skills. To learn more about EcoRise, visit www.ecorise.org.